Rotary engine.



. Patented Jan. 9, I900. w. m. FABROW. ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 19, 1899.) (No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

2 IIIIIIIII! 'umn "1 WITNESSES V //v VE/V TOR 77572. JZJQvrroza i ATTORNEYS No. s4|,|99. Patented Ian. 9, I900'.

w. m. FABROW. ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 19, 1899.) (m1 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

w I I 1 I 4 u w WIIIIIIIIIII 3 "Li I I- \VILLARD M. FARROV, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRIO" OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR v OF TlVO-TIIIRDS TO A. FRED. JORSS AND L. O. BAILEY,

or SAME rmon.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641, 199, dated January 9, 1900. Application filed April 19, 1899. Serial No. 713,632- (No model.)

.To all whom if FJLOJ/ GOILOBITL:

Be it known that I, WILLARD M. FARROW, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved 5 Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of rotary engines having a stationary valve and a plurality of cylinders projectingradially from I the valve and made to revolve around it.

Primarily this invention has for its object to provide an engine of this kind embodying certain improvements whereby the same can be economically constructed and so effectively operate as to render it adaptablefor all the ordinary driving purposes.

In its general construction my invention comprehends a straightway shaft rotatable about the stationary valve and eccentrically mounted within the casing, a pairofcylinders arranged tandem, rotatable with the shaft, and a piston in each of the cylinders moving radially outward by fluidpressure and to their inward position by reason of their outer ends traversing the eccentric path of the internal chamber of the casing,' the several parts being also so arranged that the piston will be forced forward both by direct and expansive fluid-pressure.

Another purpose of this invention lies in the providing a straightway shaft having a tubular portion forming an inlet; a cut-01f valve held stationary within the tubular shaft, but capable of being set from the exterior of 3 5 the shaft, whereby to reverse the direction of movement of the engine; a duplex cylinder concentrically mounted upon the shaft; a traversing frame reciprocally slidable on the duplex cylinder and having roller-bearings 0 adapted to engage the eccentric fixedly-held abutment formed by the interior wall of the casing, and connections between the ends of the said frame and piston so arranged as to produce a continuous and uniform rotary ac- 5 tion of the shaft witlnthe least twist strain or jerky action so common in rotary-engines.

Again, my invention seeks to provide, in an engine of this. character, a traversing frame carrying abutting roller-bearings, in which the casing has its transverse plane or abutment-wall composed of two parallel annular .ing lever and detent device therefor.

Ways provided with an internally-projecting guide and with which a duplex set of roller bearings mounted on each end of the traversing frame is adapted to engage, whereby to hold the said frame from lateral strain during its rotary movement and the more positively to be held true in its bearings. I

In its subordinate features the invention comprehends certain details of construction .60 and combination of parts, such as will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

Figure l is a perspective view of my rotary engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of-the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. Fig.

4 is a horizontal section taken practically on the line 4: 4. of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section illustrating the stationary valve and the tubular shaft-section operativel y connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse section of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a detail end View of the valve-shift- Fig. 6

is a perspective view of the traversing frame, with the duplex cylinder and the straightway shaft connected therewith. view of the cylinder and the shaft detached fromthe traversing frame,and Fig. 8 is adetail perspective view of the traversing frame. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a modified form of my invention, hereinafter specifically referred to.

In its practical construction my invention embodies a casing consisting of a foundationsection 1,'which may be of cast metal suitably framed, as shown in the drawings, or it may consist of a combined masonry and metal framing, as conditions may make most desirable. The fou ndation-secti on 1 forms the lower half of the engine-casing, and the said section has diametrically opposing projecting 5 laterals 1 1, which form the saddles for the journal-bearings 2 for receiving the bearingjournals of the shaft 3.

4 indicates the upper or removable casing,

which has a semicircular shape and has its transverse bearing portions 2 formed with suitable flanges, wherebyit can be conven- Fig. 7is a detail 80 iently and securely made fast to the base-section.

I the journal-b'earings,which have lubricatingcups, as shown.

In-my construction-of engiuethe driveshaft 3 ext-ends straightway through the casing eccentrically thereof, and such shaft is formed of two sections, one of which, 3*, may

be solid and terminates with a flanged inner center division portion? and end piston- Chambers 8, each of which communicatesby a port 8 with the transverse tubular port 8 frame -10, the construction ears 2, and to each pair of ears is connected a of theqcylinder, which is held to travel around the stationary valve presently referred to, and the said port 8 communicates with a series of exhausts 6 in the hub 6 of the cylinder, as shown.

The cylinder 6 at the side diametrically opposite the hub 6 has alateral hubfi to which the tubular shaft-section is made fast, as,

shown. The exterior surface of the cylinder at diametrically opposite sides has longitudinal dovetailed guides 9 to receive-the side or straddle members 10 10 of the traversing of which is best illustrated in Fig. 8, and the same comprises parallelly-arran'ged side members 10,the ends of which are joined by cross-headslO, which terminate in outwardly-projecting bracketears 10, in each pair of which is held a transverse stlub-shaft l1, and which shaft on its opposite ends has friction-rollers 12, which rollers are adapted to bear against and traverse the inner wall of the casing, as will presently more full yappear. Each cross-head 10 has a pair of inwardly-projecting apertured piston-rod13, to each of which is integrally connected a piston-head 13.

The traversing'frame 10 iscarried upon the cylinder 6 and has a reciprocal movement thereon, which movement is utilized to impart'the rotary motion to the cylinder and the shaft, such operation being positively and efiectively accomplished by reason of the peculiar construction of the path or abutment way over which the roller ends of the frame 10 travel, such'construction of the abutting path 1:: being best illustrated in Fig. 2, by

reference to which it will be seen that the dead-center line of the engine in' the construc- I the same'is adapted to operate reversely;

tion shown is at 01; near a horizontal plane and the orbit of such path 14 is of an elongated-shape, one portion-thatnearcst the cylinder 6-being of a somewhat-greater circularsweep than the portion diametrically opposite, the purpose of which is best explained as follows: I

In the practical construction of my engine.

5 indicates the removable cap members for and l by setting the valve,

for this purpose, assuming the point X to be the dead-line-that is, the line at. which the piston is in to receive the fresh charge of live steamthe path dish es'or con vexes in reverse directions from the thereby increasing the distance from the imaginary central axis Z of the engine-casing from X to- X and their gradually decreasing the distance to the point Y, which assumably is in line of the circle struck from the axis Z. From the pointsY to the points XX the path 14 takes a convexed course, the degree of which is proportionate to the degree of concavity of the portion of the path from X to YY. It will thus be seen that the diameter of the internal chamber A,talien in any direction through the axis of the shaft and the cylinder, is alike, although the orbit line over which the roller-bearings of the frame 10 pass constantly changes.- Tho object in thus constructing the path or orbit over which the roller-bearings of the frame 10 pass, is to provide for a quick action of the pistons as they receive a live-steam impact. For example, should the cylinder be rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow and the valve point X to the point Y,

beset to discharge live steam into the pist'onchamber against the piston -moved to its innermost position when the said piston reaches a plane at or below the horizontal line XX it is obvious that as the piston is thus'forced out by reason of thegr'adually-increasing distance between the path 14 andthe axis of the cylinder the endency will be to cause the frame 10 to rotate in the direction of the arrow, the opposite end ofthe frame having a proper bearing against the path 14 by reason of it, during this movement, engaging with the convexed portion of the annular way 14.

In practice the valve mechanism is so arranged that the piston will be receiving live steam until it nearlyreaches the extremity of its thrust, which in the construction shown occurs when the cylinder has made a quarter of a revolution, after which the live steam is cut oif and the piston isheld to its outermost position by steam expansion, and while it is thus held the rotary momentum of the cylinder will be increased by reason of the piston engaging with the gradually outwardly inclined portion of the upper dished section of the path'14, 'while the opposite end of the frame, which at this time is held tightly against the diametricallyopposite co'nvexe'd portion, is being pushed forward under livesteam pressure, it being understood that the slight resistance offered by the convexed portion over which one end of the frame passes is overcomeeb'y the'momentum attained by reason of the opposite end of the .frame being carried forward and its engaging with the outwardly-dished portions diametrically op-.

posite the said convexed portion. It will be understood that the same results are attainable when the engine is driven in an opposite direction, which movement is accomplished presently. referred to,

to admit the live steam against the piston projecting radially toward the point X after where they are to receive a fresh livesteam impulse, it being also obvious that the cen trifugal force of the engine will serve to hold. the piston out. during the time that they are exhausting.

The valve, which is held stationary, as before stated, comprises a tubular stem 15, adapted to be fitted into the hollow shaftscction and having its inner end 15 slightly onlarged to fit steam-tight within the hollow core of the cylinder 6, and the said end has a diaphragm 16, which divides the feedway into a live-steam portion 15 and an exhauststeam portion 15, the live 'steam portion discharging through a port 15 and the section 15 communicating with the exhaust-port 15, and also communicating with the hollow core of the cylinder from the exhaust members through the several radial openings of the hub portion of the cylinder hereinbefore referred to. The ports 15 and 15 of the valve are elongated to a predetermined siz'e, whereby the proper manipulation of the valve will provide for a quick or slow feed of steam into the piston-cylinders, such valve adjustment providing a simple and effective means for governing the speed of the engine. The stem of the valve projects through the end ofthe hollow shaftsection and in practice has a suitable levenaud-ratchet connection where by to govern the set of the valve.

While it is not absolutely necessary for a proper operation of my invention, yet to hold the parts from undue vibration and provide a positive tracliway for the working bearings of the end of the traversing frame to travel in I prefer to form annular guide-flanges 20, with which the inner faces of the rollers are adapted to en gage,as clearlyindicated in Figs.

I 3 and 4, said flanges, it being understood, following the contour of the path 14, against which the outer face of the said rollers engage.

Fronrthe foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the ad vantages of my invention and the complete operation thereof will be readily understood. It will be observed the same is of a very few parts, which are relatively so combined as to render their manufacture easy and economical.

While I have shown the traversing frame provided with a double setof rolls at each end, as such arrangement provides for holding the cylinder from lateral strain and in consequence the shaft from being twisted or turned out of its'true bearings by reason of the flange projecting inwardly between the rollers, whereby to divide the path 14 into two distinct members, it is obvious the end of the frame may be provided with but a single rollerbearing. (Indicated in Fig, 9.)

Assuming the partsto be in theposition shown in Fig. 2 and the engine to be rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, live steam being against the piston at the right, the said piston would tend to slide the frame 10 to the direction indicated by the arrow, and in consequence by reason of the dished path its roller at the right is made to engage and cause the said frame end, with the cylinder, to be rotated in the direction stated. When the piston has reached its outermost point, the live steam is cut off, assuming the valve to be so arranged, and the said piston is then held out to such position by steam expansion within the cylinder until it reaches a point at which it exhausts, after which it will be held out by centrifugal force until it isforced inward again by reason of the gradual inwardlyinclined plane of the path as it approaches the dead-center or horizontal plane.

It will be understood that the special de tailed arrangement of parts shown in the drawings and hereinbefore described may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1; A rotary engine; comprising an annular traekway; a stationary valve disposed eccen trically of the trackway, said valve having inlet and exhaust ports; a duplex cylinder rotatably mounted upon the valve; a carriage longitudinally slidable upon the cylinder,said

carriage having its ends engaging the shun lar trackway, said trackway having a pair of alternately-disposed and diametrically opposite eccentric orbits; the pistons and connections joining the pistons and the sliding carriage, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. A rotary engine; comprising, in eombination; a straightway shaft having a tubular portion provided with diametrically opposite ports; a stationary cut-oif valve .mounted within the tubular shaft; a double-ended cylinder mounted upon the shaft to rotate therewith, and having ports adapted to register IIO with the shaft-ports; a piston operating in each end of the cylinder; a carriage rotatable with and-reciprocally slidable 011 the cylin der; a trackway eccentric of the axis of the cylinder, said trackway having abutments or inclines for imparting a reciprocating action to the carriage as it rotates, substantially asv described.

3.- In arot'aryengine; the combination with a straightaway shaft; a stationary valve upon which the shaft rotates, said shaft having inlet and cut-off ports adapted to alternately aline the valve-ports; a tandem cylinder rotatable with the shaft; a carriage rotatable with the cylinder and a trackway within which the carrier rotates, said trackway havmg abutments for imparting a reciprocal movement to the carrier and thereby rotate the cylinder, as set forth.

i. In combination; a closed casing having an annular internal trackway formed with a plurality of paths arranged eccentrically of the axis of thecasing ortrack; a stationary valve eccentric with thetrack-paths; a duplex set of cylinders DI'QjCcting radially through the valve and rotatable thereon; a piston within each cylinder; a carrier-frame rotatable with the cylinders and longitudinally slidable thereon, said carrier having bearings at its opposite ends engaging the annular trackway; the link connections join ing the carrier and the pistons, all beingarranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

5. The combination with the casing, said casing having an internal trackway formed with a plurality of eccentric abutment-surfaces; a straightivay shaft passed eccentrically through the casing and having a t ubular portion provided with oppositely-arranged ports; a valve movable Within the tubular shaft-section; a cylinder rotatable on the shaft having a piston-chamber projected radially from opposite sides of the shaft, said chamber communicating with the hollow shaft inlet and exhausts; a piston working in each chamber; a yoke-frame held to rotate With and slidable' longitudinally-upon the cylinder, and link connections joining the pistons with the carriage, all being arranged substantially as shown and described. J

6 The combination with the casiu g and the eccentrically-held straightway shaft, said shaft having a tubular section, the casing having an annular trackway formed with a plurality of eccentric portions, and the annular rims 20, running parallel with the track- Way of the casing, said track way being formed of two distinct portions; a feed andvalve adjustably held Within the tubular shaft, said valve having inlet and exhaust ports communicating through the-shaft; a cylinder mounted upon the shaft to turn therewith, said cylinder having a radiallyprojecting piste-11- chamber at each side of the shaft and communicating therewith; the carriage l0, longitudinally slidable upon the cylinder and rotatable therewith, said cylinder havingexhaust-ports communicating with the exhausts of the valve;- the carriage having a pair of roller-bearings 12, at each end adapted to engage the trackwayof the casing'and the guidetracks 20, and means for shifting the valv e, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

.WILLARD hi. liAltROW. Witnesses:

' FRED G. DIETERIcn,

A. E. DIETERICII. 

